How to Pronounce “colonel”
Free audio in American, British, and Australian English.
▶ Hear it pronouncedIPA Transcription
- American (US)
- /ˈkɜːrnəl/
- British (UK)
- /ˈkɜːnəl/
- Australian (AU)
- /ˈkɜːnəl/
What “colonel” means
noun — A senior military officer ranking above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general.
Example: The colonel addressed the regiment before dawn.
Synonyms: officer, commander
Pronunciation Notes
The spelling is misleading. “colonel” is one of a short list of English words whose spelling and pronunciation drifted apart and never came back together. Do not try to sound it out letter by letter — listen to it and learn it whole.
A loanword from French, via Italian. English borrowed the spelling from French “colonel” but the pronunciation from the older Italian-influenced form “coronel”. The two never reconciled, which is why a word written with an l is said with an r: “KER-nul”.
Where the stress falls. “colonel” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈkɜːrnəl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.
An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈkɜːrnəl/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "colonel" mean?
colonel (noun): A senior military officer ranking above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general. For example — The colonel addressed the regiment before dawn.
How do you pronounce "colonel" in American vs British English?
American English: /ˈkɜːrnəl/. British English: /ˈkɜːnəl/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.
What is the IPA transcription of "colonel"?
/ˈkɜːrnəl/ in American English, /ˈkɜːnəl/ in British English, /ˈkɜːnəl/ in Australian English.
Which syllable is stressed in "colonel"?
“colonel” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈkɜːrnəl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.
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